10 June 2026
The community is invited to make written or verbal submissions to the NSW Independent Planning Commission (Commission) about a State significant development application (SSD-8911) lodged by Sundown Solar Pty Ltd to develop a solar farm located approximately 30 kilometers east of Inverell in the New England Tablelands region of NSW.
The proposed development in the Inverell Shire Council local government area includes a 360 megawatt (MW) solar farm, a 150 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated infrastructure.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (Department) has completed its whole-of-government assessment and has referred the application to the Commission for determination. The Commission is the consent authority because the Department received more than 50 unique submissions objecting to the application.
Commissioners Sarah Dinning and Michael Wright have been appointed by the Commission Chair to determine the application.
Key issues identified in the Department’s whole-of-government assessment of the development application include land use compatibility, traffic and transport, worker accommodation and biodiversity.
The Commission has access to all previous written submissions made to the Department, however it is particularly helpful for the Commission to also hear the community’s views on the Department’s Assessment Report and recommended conditions, which can be found on the Commission’s website.
The Commission is inviting the public to make written submissions via the Make a Submission portal on the Commission’s website. Written submissions will be accepted until 11:59PM (AEST) on Wednesday 8 July 2026.
Community members are also invited to make a verbal submission at a public meeting on the Sundown Solar Farm to be held at the Elsmore Memorial Hall, 1181 Elsmore Road, Elsmore, NSW 2360 on Wednesday 1 July 2026, commencing at 10:00AM (AEST). Speakers at the public meeting must pre-register on the Commission’s website using the Speaker Registration Form. The deadline for speaker registrations is 12:00PM noon (AEST) on Wednesday 24 June 2026.
Please note
The public meeting is intended to be livestreamed on the Commission’s YouTube channel, subject to speaker numbers. Registered speakers will be asked to nominate their preference for presenting at the public meeting either in-person at the venue or by dialing in by telephone. Please note that if the demand for either in-person or telephone attendance is low, the Commission may opt to conduct the meeting either entirely virtually or entirely in person. Similarly, if demand for speaker timeslots is high and Wednesday 1 July 2026 becomes fully booked, the Commission will endeavour to schedule a second day. If either of these scenarios occur, this will be fully communicated to all registered speakers in advance, including how the Commission can assist people to attend the meeting virtually. These flexible arrangements ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to be heard, while also making best use of public resources.